New Moon in Virgo: Empowered Organization
Virgo blesses us with a gentle but firm push towards the tasks we’ve been avoiding, and de-cluttering our overly full lives.
Let’s briefly talk about about the origins of the word VIRGIN. What do you think of? What images are conjured? Now is the time to leave behind the myth and embrace the truth. A virgin was only regarded as one free of “original sin” (i.e. juicy evil penetrative sex), once Christianity got ahold of it. In the times of gods and goddesses, it was an esteemed word - a title for sacred deities without a consort or partner. She was independent.
So often, Virgo is typecasted as the overly analytical, very tidy, responsible and economical librarian with a pursed lip. She is in fact a calmly sensual character with a secret. Mona Lisa to the max. What the virgin goddess brings to us is the innate ability to create order from chaos, especially in the darkness of the new moon as she revels in a good challenge. Her “purity” comes in the form of critical thinking and big-picture awareness. She has no room for the indecency of wasted time. And like a kind spirited but fair elder, she judges our actions honestly, knowing that her judgement should have little to do with her sympathies and more to do with the betterment of the whole. Of the community. Of the sacred collective. She sees that one toppled domino doesn’t fall alone- and intends to point out where we can improve our lives, and how positive the effects could be. This isn’t just for us. It’s for everyone. And everything. If we want growth, we must change. If we want the world to survive, we must change.
One aspect of the Buddhist approach to eating is to leave one third of the stomach empty. We should never be “full,” but rather satiated and satisfied. This is similar to how we should approach something as typical as laundry. When we pack in a washing machine to the brim, nothing gets truly clean because it can’t move. Offering a little space to our lives allows everything else to flow with greater ease, even if that means sacrificing something, or - wait for it - having patience. Maybe it’s not possible to do everything at once, or perhaps it is possible but not comfortable. Now is the time to create new goals. Plot out the next year for yourself, or the next few months if that feels better. The scale is entirely up to you. Trust your judgement!
What tasks or chores have you continually put off? Now is the time to not only do the practical cleaning and clearing, but to create a goal-oriented schedule for yourself. If you live with a partner, friend, or child, drag them into the mix! This is a great connecting device, and will give everyone something to be proud of. A healthy sense of accomplishment starts at realistic planning, and it could be something as simple as regular sweeping - or as scary as finally making that dentist appointment (and going!). Another suggestion: go through your monthly bank statements, find all the automatic deductions that are zapping your checking account clean, and decide what can be let go of - while likely also discovering some expenses you didn’t even know were leaking! Those automatic $4.99 a month for whatever app you no longer use do add up. Nix ‘em. Take that same energy and apply it to the home. Clean it up, but don’t go crazy and regret your actions in the morning. Despite what Marie Kondo says, I think a little old book and tattered t-shirt clutter is good for the spirit. I like to employ a think-about-it-box for books and whatnot that I don’t think I need any longer, but am unsure about. As my magic teacher says, “'‘maybe’ means ‘no, until further notice.’” It’s okay to let that further notice play out if you really need it. Again - trust your instincts. The goddess lives within. She really does.
